Moose awareness and safety on campus: Responsibly sharing land with wildlife

Spring in Alaska brings about a soggy season, with snow melting just enough for bushes and other plants on the ground to begin to peek through. While this weather may not be a human favorite, it’s the time of year where more food becomes available to moose, and they often move about town in search of opportunities to feast. 

Chief Jeff Earle of the University Police Department shared some tips in an interview with TNL about moose on campus. “We, on a nearly daily basis, get a phone call about a wildlife sighting on campus,” said Earle. He said that if moose are not obstructing pathways or causing a disturbance, there isn’t a need to alert UPD. However, he said people should not be afraid to contact UPD if they are uncertain, uncomfortable or worry the moose may be a danger or disturbance — it’s better to be safe than sorry. 

Chief Earle says one of the biggest steps students and others on campus can take to be safe around wildlife like moose is to be aware of your surroundings. He says students are often on their phones while walking or have headphones in. This makes it easier to be startled by an animal, caught unaware or walk between a mother and calf. Moose are extremely protective of their young, and calves should be given as much space as possible to avoid confrontation and interaction with the baby or adult. Being aware of your surroundings includes keeping an eye out for moose while spending time outside. 

Chief Earle shared that this semester, on Jan 25., a student had an incident with a moose and calf while leaving the Engineering and Industry Building. While exiting, the student accidentally came between a mother and calf, and the adult moose made contact with him. Chief Earle says both the student and moose were unharmed.

In the 1980s, an individual was killed on campus by a moose — they are powerful animals, so it is important to do all you can to protect yourself. If an animal is reported to UPD near an entrance, “... sometimes, depending on the nature of what's happening, we may try to move the animal a little bit — but that's always a little dangerous as well,” says Chief Earle. UPD works to alert students of moose near building entrances and directs students to alternatives for safety, since moving an animal is rarely the best or easiest course of action.

Another key tip is to not attempt to approach moose to pet or feed them. While moose may look cute and friendly, they can be heavily territorial and just like all wild animals, deserve respect and distance. Moose should only ever be watched or photographed from a safe distance. It is also illegal in the state of Alaska to harass moose — never chase a moose, or do anything to purposefully agitate or scare it. More tips from UPD about moose safety can be found on the UAA website. 

The Residence Life area is also prone to moose and bear sightings. Making sure trash is properly disposed of and not left outside of dorms is important to ensure wildlife is not attracted to the area. Food dependency is dangerous for both animals and people, as animals may attack when no longer fed, and have to be put down. “We really encourage people not to feed [the wildlife], not to set up those conditions … we don't want to set them up for failure,” said Chief Earle. 

Moose and bears also interact with each other, especially during calving season, and year round. Chief Earle said a moose on campus had given birth to a pair of calves in the past year or so, one of which hadn’t survived. He said “a couple moose got into a fight with the bear, because they were still trying to protect the deceased calf.” 

Students and staff should always avoid interactions between moose and bears, as both species are more aggressive when defensive or hunting. UPD does send out warnings about scenarios like this, and asks people to not seek out these situations for photos, as it is dangerous and can worsen the situation. 

Due to UAA’s location, the campus weaves in and out of heavily wooded areas with a variety of streams, flora and fauna. Students should take enclosed walkways, like going through buildings or the Spine, whenever possible and try to never walk through wooded areas alone or in the dark. While it may seem animals are a disturbance to campus life, as Alaskans we share our land with these creatures and must be respectful of their natural environment and space. A few moose move throughout campus regularly Chief Earle said, along with some black bears in the spring and summer, and smaller wildlife. “We, in a very unique way, share our existence with a wide range of wildlife that is both sometimes majestic and scary.”

More tips for wildlife safety and laws can be found on the Alaska Department of Fish and Game website.